(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, joined by District Department of Employment Services Director Joseph P. Walsh, today announced a workforce pilot program targeted at putting young adults ages 18 through 24 on the path to new career opportunities.
“This program is an excellent opportunity for young District residents to advance professionally,” said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “The program will help young people develop the direction and skills needed to compete in today’s labor market.”
The new Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP), funded by a $3.9 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, will help approximately 500 young adults gain practical work experience. In addition to on-the-job work experience, participants will attend regular workshops, mentoring and training classes promoting life-skill development, work readiness skills, financial literacy, critical thinking and problem solving.
“The young adults in this new program will have a chance to gain work experience, begin to build their resumes, work with adult mentors and explore new career opportunities,” said Joseph Walsh, director of the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES). “We are creating not just new job opportunities but opportunities to learn the critical skills they will need to succeed for the rest of their lives.”
There are already over 25 local employers partnering with the Department of Employment Services on this initiative. The program begins November 9th, 2009, and concludes March 31, 2010. YAIP is a pilot program and the outcomes will be analyzed to help develop and strengthen all the District’s youth employment programs, according to Walsh.
The program aims to provide young adults with meaningful, structured work experiences and career exposure that will lead to full-time employment. This pilot is aimed to provide early work experiences for young adults to ensure that they develop useful work habits and marketable skills to increase their opportunities for future employment. Participants will be introduced to a variety of career paths.
YAIP participants are paired with case managers to create an Individual Service Strategy to assist with developing personal and professional goals. Training classes on life-skill development, work readiness skills, financial literacy, critical thinking, and problem solving are offered. Interns are placed at designated worksites, where they work five hours each day, four days per week and earn an hourly wage of $8.25. A mandatory employment skills workshop is held on the fifth day.
Additional assistance such as childcare assistance, transportation, and workshops on effective interviewing skills and interpersonal communications are central to the program’s effort to ensure the YAIP is accessible and effective. YAIP interns can also work toward obtaining their GED or further their academic goals. A network of professionals in both the private and public sectors is also available to provide guidance and support to YAIP participants.
For more information on YAIP, contact the Department of Employment Services Office of Youth Programs at (202) 698-3492 or www.youthjobs.dc.gov.